Automatic retriever appliance for operating utensils such as erasers, pens, pencils, and the like



Aprll 22, 1947. Q HQPPMAN 2,419,215 AUTOMATIC RETRIEVER APPLIANCE FOR OPERATING UTENSILS SUCH AS ERASERS, PENS, PENCILS, AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 14, 1945 in van iar OTTO HOPPMA N Patented Apr. 22,1941

AUTOMATIC RETRIEVER APPLIANCE FOR OPERATING UTENSILS SUCH AS ERASERS, PENS, PENCILS,:AND THE LIKE Otto Hoppman, Oak Park, Ill. Application August 14, 1943, Serial No. 498,710

7 Claims. (Cl. 120-36) This invention relates .to a removable attachable automatic retriever appliance consisting of a single unit adapted to perform the functions of a plurality of utensils, and has for an object to provide a convenient article of manufacture capable of performing the functions of an eraser, pen, pencil, and the like for ofiice and other mechanical equipment, such as typewriters and the like including other miscellaneous articles of manufacture and which may be held in easy reach and readily available for use.

It is a well known fact that typists, stenographers, and others who operate typewriters and other ofiice mechanical equipment and the like, have every day need of an eraser for correcting errors, etc., and in making search for said erasers and pencils which may be here, there and everywhere, but as a rule not in a convenient place. It naturally follows that much valuable time and labor is lost in non-productive work. Therefore, the object of thi practical invention is just the means for eliminating the difficulties plu delays frequently occasioned when searching for an eraser and the like, and thus preventing a great deal of inconvenience, etc.

Yam aware that prior to my invention, retrieving combination articleserasers, pencils, pens, and such like have been made, but due to a number of impractical features their use has evidently failed to prove successful, owing to apparent difiiculties in construction and assembly, such as for instance the inability to readily detach and renew an individual unit, which on account of service is worn and mutilated, without replacing an entire new retriever appliance.

The principal aim of my invention is to' provide an inexpensive and compact article of manufacture in the form of an easily removable 'at tachable automatic retriever appliance, without the use of tools, very simple in construction and assembly, and very practical and mechanically efiicient in the functioning of utensils such as erasers, pens, pencils, and the like, and thus overcome the above mentioned and other op erating difiiculties.

Another feature of the invention is to provide an octagonal bracket upport so constructed that it can readily and easily be refilled with a new casing containing the retrieving mechanism without in any way interrupting or interfering with the functioning of any other units or parts embodied in the invention.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a combination eraser, and eraser carrier. The said eraser carrier is so simple and pactical in constructionand assembly that it may, without employing tools, be very easily attached to and very readily detached from the said eraser.

Having the above and other objects in view, the invention has a number of other practical advantages consisting of certain construction combinations and arrangements of parts, the f ea tures of which, with the foregoing will be explained at length in the following descriptions, where I shall specify in full the form of the invention which I have chosen for illustration in.

the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the following specification.

It is to be understood however that I do not limit myself to such form because the invention as expressed-in the claims may be embodiedin a plurality of forms, owing to the'fact that'some.

makes of typewriters and other office mechanical equipment and articles of manufacture difier' somewhat in construction, the form of the re-.. triever appliance must of necessity be changed to fit the various models.

Referring to said drawings: Fig. 1 is a front sectional view retriever appliance invention. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the upright shank.

Fig. 3 is a rear perspective view of the upright shank and a base anchor flange.

Fig. 4 is a rear perspective View of a pair of twin supporting brackets at the upper end of the upright shank, ananchor foot clamp, and anchor flange.

Fig. 5 is a plan view for an additional auxiliary base anchor flange. The broken upright shank portion is also shown.

Fig. 6 is a view of the completed additionalauxiliary base anchor flange.

Fig. 7 represents a removable attachable contrivance designed to carry an eraser. Fig. 8 illustrates an eraser and device attached thereto.

Fig. 9 is a modification.

Fig. 10 is an outline view of a portion of a ty-pe-v writer illustrating a practical application of my invention.

I will now describe my invention in detail by reference numerals.

#ID is a casing the front side of which is eliminated thus giving a full View of the casing flange II, the drum l2 actuated by the spring l3 and a a cord l4 secured to such. drum. At the upper end of the upright shank l6 are the twin supporting brackets IT. The said cord l4 may be a flat tape or fine chain and drawn away from said casing l0 against the adjusted tension of the retracting utensil such as an eraser, a pen or pencil, and

the like, and when a utensil has been used and set free, the said spring tension automatically relaxes and carries the utensil back to its resting place close to the retriever appliance out of the Way and readily accessible when needed.

of my automatic eraser carrier i The tension of saids'pring l3 may be adjusted to provide the necessary power to meet the resistance of the different retrieving utensils. should the spring tension become insuffici ent through usage to retrieve a utensil, and if the retriever cord becomes worn and useless, they may be very easily replaced by another casing .containing an entire new operating mechanism for a very trifling expense. The said cord Hi,

being under constant tension when in use will readily aid the utensil to function in a free and easy manner, otherwise if such cord were let loose and dangling when in use, as would be the case when operating a pawl, a ratchet, or other like mechanisms such cord l4 would be apt to cause ome difficulti'es should it become entangled withsurrounding objects and miscellaneous articles, and thus its usefulness would be impaired and rendered impractical.

" The twin supporting brackets ii are shaped octagonal for the purpose of clamping between theflanges H of casing I0 and prevent such casing from creeping. it shows a small portion of the "said upright shank l5 bent double and p'res'se'dflat and acts as a reinforcement for the said brackets i]. A substantial anchorage section is formed at the lower end of the said upin i p lj lnction with the said auxiliary base anchor flange 22 to meet the need, andthus provide ample horizontal base anchorage stability for the efficient operation of the said'automatic retriever appliance.

The anchor flange l9, and the au iliary anchor flange 22, either or both of which may be, attached by pressing upward against the inner wall of a typewriter and other oiiice mechanical equipment including telephones and the like. A removable attachable eraser carrier 23 having a pair of'parallel legs, preferably of resilient matee rial, in engagement witheach other'and terminating even at their Opposite ends, each such end is provided With a projcr-ting lug 2d, the length of said lugs'are so adjusted that on being inserted into the center opening of an eraser they contact each other and prevent the said legs 23 from binding to the said eraser 25, and assure such eraser ample free rotating efficiency. Either one of the said lugs 24 telescopes into the opposite lug and hold the said lugs and the said parallel legs'in proper alignment; The combination eraser and carrier may be very easily attached to and readily detached from the "ring l5 at the outer end of the retriever cord l4 and such carrier may also be very promptly ref lled with a new eraser. 25 illustrate an eraser with the said eraser carrier e ce attached thereto. Instead of the cone struction before described, that shown in Fig. 9 is exceptionally valuable for utilization on switch boards, clipboards, memo pads, files, and the like, in banks, stores, o lfices, and shops, including radio stations, telegraph ofiices, and other cen rs b q emueieeti awhere e at e 15.9?

A rivet 2! countersupporting vital importance and no time to waste searching for erasers, pens, pencils, and the like.

Having thus illustrated and described the preferred fo'rmof my invention, 1' do not claim as new the mechanism cord, drum and spring, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In reel holding means, a reel holder, said reel holder being polygonally shaped, and a polygonally-shaped supporting bracket for said holder, the sides of the bracket registering with the sides of the holder, to keep the same from creeping.

2. 'Inreel holding means, a polygonally-shaped bracket, a reel holder mounted in said bracket, the holder being also polygonally shaped, the sides oi the bracket registering with the sides of the h lder to ke t e same f qm creeping.

3. In reel holding means, a polygonally shaped supporting bracket, a polygonally-shaped reel holder positioned in the supporting bracket, said bracket having an upper section thereof split so as to provide a pair of supporting elements,

; adapted to form the polygenaily-shaped supporting bracket.

4. In a device of the kind described, a utility holder, means for supporting said utility holder, on a typewriter, and yielding registering flat sides providing anchoring means preventing creeping oi the holder.

5. A reel holding bracket comprising, in combination, a cup-shaped casing having a plurality of flat sides, a reel holder having corresponding flat sides adapted'for'positioning in said casing,

and yielding means permitting unwinding and rewinding of the reel, said flat sides preventing creeping of the reel holder.

6. An attachment for typewriters and th like comprising a bracket haying an indented portion with flat sides, means mounting thebracket on t e ty r a e hav a t and he eqh to which an eraser may be attached, and a reel holder also having sitioned in the bracket with the flat sides thereof registering with the flat sides of the bracket to prevent creeping.

7. An attachment for typewriters and the like comprising a bracket having an indented portion with flat sides, means mounting the bracket on the ty w t r a reel ha Strand th een t which an eraser may be attached, a reel holder also having fiat sides adapted to be positioned the bracket with the flat sides thereof registering with the flat sides of the bracket to prevent creep: ing, and a yoke also having flat surfaces register ing with the fiat surfaces of the bracket and reel holder interposed between the said bracket and holder.

OTT

REFERENGES one! The following references are of record in the file of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS n in s nt- 0. 92

fia es adapterbe 1 0- 

